The suspension> of a leading Middlesbrough councillor from the Labour Group throws up a very emotive issue.

Councillor Ken Walker's constituents will perceive his 'crime' as fighting too hard for them in protesting against the scale of the Gresham development plans.

And that in turn will lead to questions about where an individual councillor's first duty lies.

The situation might be more complex than that - though with the Labour Group's stance being 'no comment to make on private Labour Party business' it is difficult to know the full detail behind this radical step - but clearly Cllr Walker's Gresham fight is at the heart of it.

And the message this sends is one that touches at the very heart of local politics.

The frustrations of those in the Labour Group who expect support for regeneration plans, which do represent a one-off opportunity to make a significant difference to the town centre, are understandable.

Yet, whatever the rights and wrongs of the Gresham debate, there has to be sympathy for the position of a councillor for that ward who goes out on a limb in support of those who elected him.